bollmann



(No Model.)

, 6SheetsSheet 1. L. & J. BO LLMANN.

OVERSEAM SEWING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. '18, 1881.

luv/enters. mjnesses. laaz'jallmarzn. m l E N u Jafiejllzazzmann' (NoModel.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. 85 J. BOLLMANN.

OVERSEAM SEWING MACHINE.

No. 248,552. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

flventard. 010563022 manm N. PETERS Pmm-uma n ner, Washingivn. n.c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3'.

L. & J. BOLLMANN.

OVERSEAM SEWING MACHINE.

No. 248,552. Patented Ocst. 18,1881.

.Inventord'.

zit/0886s; Zauzkflallmann),

H wwyjazzmmm N PETERS. Pholo-Lilhogmphar. Wifh nglun. D. C.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

L. & J. BOLLMANN.

OVERSEAM SEWING MACHINE.

No. 248,552. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

fw/zizz wg @W 05 N, PETERS. Pholoiil'nugnphur, Wishingkm. D.C.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5'.

(No Model.)

L. & J. BOLLMANN.

OVERSEAM SEWING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 18,1881,

N. PEYERS FholuLillmgrzpher. Wiuhinglnn. D. I.

(No Model.) 6' Sheets-Sheet 6.

L. & J. BOLLMANN.

OVERSEAM SEWING MACHINE.

No. 248,552. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

mm mmm N. PETERS. Photo-Limo g gg er. Wuhingtnn, 0.0.

trams rates PATENT Orrrcn.

LOUIS BOLLMANN AND JOSEF BOLLMANN, OF PENZING, NEAR VIENNA, AUSTRIA,ASSIGNORS TO GEORGE WOOD RICHARDSON AND ALEXANDER STORER, BOTH OFLINWOOD, ENGLAND.

OVERSEAM SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,552, dated October18, 1881,

Application filed June 23, 1880. (No model.) Patented in England August11, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIS BOLLMANN and J OSEF BOLLMANN, of Penzing,near Vienna, Austria, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Sewing-Machines, (for which we have obtained a patent in GreatBritain, No. 3,326, hearing date August 11, 1879,)ot' which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to means of effecting that kind of sewing which isknown as overhead sewing, the stitches being worked over the edge of thefabric, or of the two or more pieces of fabric that have to be sewedtogether, as at the edges of sacks and in the seams of gloves. Theoverhead stitch is, according to this invention, etl'ected by thecombined action of three instruments-a shuttle which moves horizontallyin a continuous circular path under the fabric, a peculiar needle whichmoves up and down through the fabric, and a hook which has three sets ofreciprocating movements, longitudinally, laterally, and vertically aboveand over the edge of the fabric. The peculiarity of the needle is thatinstead of a closed eye it has a hook like that of a crochetneedle nearits point, and is fitted with a slide, which at certaintimes leaves thehook open, so that the thread can be withdrawn from it, and at othertimes close the gap of the book, 0 so that the thread is retained as inthe eye of a needle. The vertical reciprocating movements of the needleand the three sets of reciprocating movements of the hook are communicated by levers and rods from four suitably- 5 shaped cams on acontinuously-revolving horizontal shaft under the table of the machine.The same shaft, by miter-gearing, drives a vertical shaft, which givesmotion to the shuttledriver. The slide which closes the eye of theneedle is worked by a small spring-lever mounted on the needle-arm,arranged in such manner that by the movement of the arm it is broughtagainst fixed stops, causing the required movements of the slide to openand close the nee- 5 dIeeye. Above the tableof the machine is a bracketcarrying a spring-presser of ordinary construction, and in the table isa four-motion feed, also of ordinary construction, worked by cams on thehorizontal shaft.

The operation of the machine in effecting the overhead stitch is asfollows: The needle, being in its lowest position, has its eye open,having engaged therein a loop of the shuttle-thread. As it rises the eyeis closed by the spring acting on the slide of the needle, and theneedle 5 carries up through the fabric the loop of thread. The hookseizes this loop, extends it outward beyond the edge of the fabric, andthen brings it again inward under the edge of the fabric while theneedle descends. The shuttle passes through the thread-loop, and the eyeof the needle being now opened, the loop is cast off it and a fresh loopis engaged in its eye; also, the hook, having its loop cast on,reascends, whereupon the operation is repeated, the fabric bcin g fedonward. The successive stitches thus formed are tightened up partly bythe action of the needle and book, but principally by a variable tensionand take-up action in the shuttle, which contains the spool of thread.The thread passes from the spool through a hole, across which moves awedge-shaped pin. At certain points of the revolution of the shuttlethis pin is moved, so as to release the thread, by a spring-lever, whichrevolves with the shut- 7'5 tle round a stationary cam. At other partsof the revolution the pin is moved so as to wedge the thread tightly inthe hole, the tension being thus varied.

For a take-up the thread is carried partly round the periphery of asmall pulley mounted in the shuttle. This pulley is worked by a clutchfrom averticalaxis in the shuttledriver, the clutch being so formed asto permit passage through it of the thread loop, through which theshuttle passes. On this vertical axis is a pinion gearing. with atoothed segment on a lever, which is'carried along with theshuttle-driver round a stationary arm so shaped as at certain parts ofeach revolution to cause the winding up of the thread on the take-uppulley and its unwinding therefrom. The shuttle is of rectangularsection, shaped, with its front end sharp to enter the threadloop,swelling out toward and beyond the 5 middle ofits length to hold thetake-up pulley and spool, and tapering again to its back end or tail,which extends sut'ficiently far to hold the thread-loop on it forsomewhat more than aquarterof arevolution. The shuttleis driven in itscircular path by several upright pins standing up from the revolvingshuttle-driver and entering recesses in the under side of the shuttle.These pins are capable of sliding up and down in the driver, and attheir lower ends they have T-heads, which travel through a cam-groove onthe shuttle-race, so shaped that each of the driver-pins is successivelydrawn downward, to allow the thread-loop to pass clear between its topand the under side of the shuttle. To prevent the shuttle from beingraised out of the race thelatter has projecting inward from itscylindrical periphery a circular lip, which enters a groove formed inthe exterior surface of the shuttle.

The framing of the machine is mounted on trunnions, so that it can beturned up to examine, cleanse, or repair the mechanism under the table.

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a machine constructed inaccordance with our invention. Fig. 2isa vertical longitudinal sectionof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the under side of the machine. Fig.4 is a frontelevation of the feed mechanism. Fig. 5 shows a top view ofthe same. Fig. 6 is a section taken through the casing containing theshuttle and shuttle-driving devices. Fig. 7 is a top view-of part ofFig. 6 with the shuttle removed. vFig. 8 is a top view of the shuttlewith its cover removed. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the shuttle online new, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a view of a lever belonging to the shuttle.Fig. 11 is an edge view of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of oneend of Fig. 10. Figs. 13, 14, 15,16, and 17 are views illustrating thedevice for opening and closing the eye of the needle. Fig. 18 shows twoviews of the needle. Fig. 19 is a diagram showing different positions ofthe shuttle. Figs. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and are views of thepresser-plate and the hook that engages the thread in its differentpositions. Figs. 26, 27, 28, and 29 illustrate the form of stitch.

In all the figures similar reference-letters are employed to indicatecorresponding parts.

The table or main frame of the machine is conveniently made in twopieces, A V, secured together by bolts to, andin order to give readyaccess to the parts below it may be mounted on a stand by trunnions B B,so that it can be turned up as on hinges.

In bearings below the table is mounted the revolving shaft I), which maybe driven, by a belt or otherwise, from anysuitable motor. On this shaftare fixed a series of cams, O C G C O and a miter-wheel, c, by whichmotion is imparted to the various parts.

011 the table A is fixed a bracket, 1), carryin g the slidingpresser-rod d, which is pressed downward by a spring, and can be raisedand held up by a lever, E, as in other sewingma- 5 chines.Thepresser-platee is made of suflicient length and breadth to hold thefabric firmly 'ter screws, M M.

under it, and it is fixed to the presser-rod by means of a set-screw, F.The presser-plate e is notched at its right edge to give passage for theneedle through it, and at the side of the needle-aperture the notch ismade with a noselike projection, which bears a part in the formation ofthe stitch, as shown in Fig. 19, and as will hereinafter be explained.

fis the needle-plate, which is sunk into and secured in the table. It isslotted for the pas sage through it of the serrated feed-plate G, and itis notched, as at H, for the passage of the needle, the notch being madewith a noselike projection, as shown in'part plan, Fig. 5. Thefeed-plate G works flat against the vertical face of the table A withinguide-pieces 9, one of which is shown in Fig. 4, which represents anelevation of the feed mechanism. A spring, h, draws the feed slidedownward against the cam 0 and a spring, I, draws the same laterallyagainst a roller, i, on one arm ofa lever, K, a roller on the other armof which bears against the cam C. By means of the cams (J and C and thesprings h and I the feed receives its four motions, as in other sewingmachines-upward, forward, downward, and backward-these motions being, bythe setting of the cams on the shaft 1), properly timed to the othermovements of the machinery. As the feeding mechanism above describedforms no essential part of this invention, it may be constructed andarranged in any other known and suitable manner.

L is the needle-arm, in the form of a bellcrank lever, on a spindle, l,pivoted on the cen- One arm of this lever has a roller, m, (shown indotted lines, Fig. 2, and in full lines, Fig.3,) engaged in the curvedpath of the barrel-cam O, which gives it reciprocating motion. The otherarm carries the needle N, which is curved, and is made with an open eye,somewhat like the hook ofa crochet-needle, as shown in Fig. is.

For the purpose of automatically closing the hook while the needlepasses through the fabric and opening it so that when clear of thefabric it can receive and release a loop of the thread, there isemployed certain mechanism, which is shown separately in Figs. 13 to 18,inclusive, the mechanism being, however, unnecessary when leather orother non-fibrous material is operated on, in which case the needle-hookmight always remain open. This mechanism referred to is as follows:

In the needle-holder is fitted a sliding piece, it, held by screwspassing through slots 0, which permit of its up and down movement. Thissliding piece has its upper end formed as 21. pin, which works in agroove in the side of I25 of the needle, and by the part 2 of the leverP coming against the other stop in the downstroke of the needle, thelever Pin both cases is moved in opposition to the spring, so as to drawthe pin end of the slide a downward, leaving the needle-hook open.

It is the thread-hook, which has a blunt end, and on the side oppositeto the hook a short barb. This hook is fixed on an arm, 1', which isdouble-jointed at S to one arm of a lever, s, the opposite arm of whichcarries a roller engaged in the groove of the barrel-cam G, from whichthe hook R receives 'alongitudinal recipr'ocating movement. The arm r isconnected by the rod T by a ball jointed at one end to one arm, t, of abell-crank lever above the table, the other arm, t, of which, below thetable, has a roller engaged in the groove of the barrel-cam G whence thehook 1t receives a reciprocating lateral movement. The arm 1' is alsoconnected by a rod, U, ball-jointed at one end to one arm of abell-crank lever, u, the other arm of which bell-crank lever has aroller engaged in the groove of the barrel-cam 0 whereby the hook Rreceives a reciprocating vertical movement. The three reciprocat-. ingmovements of the hook perform functions in the formation of the stitchwhich will hereinafter be explained. It will be understood that theseconnecting-rods T and U have balljointstat both of their ends.

The shuttle-race is formed in a cylindrical hollow part, V, of thetable. the bottom of the hollow having a bottom plate, a, secured byscrews. Part of the side of the hollow is open to give space for theworking of the needle and hook and of the feed.

In a recess in the hollow portion of the table is fitted a ring, W, (seeFig. 2,) having an inwardly-projectinglip,which, enteringa chase in thelower exterior edge of the shuttle, prevents the shuttle from rising ordescending while it revolves. i

In the center of the shuttle-race is mounted the vertical spindle A ofthe shuttle-d river A supported at its lower end in a bracket projeetingdown from the table, which bracket also has a bearing for the end of theshaft 1). The spindleA passes through a stationary sleeve, on which isfixed a cam, B. There is also a stationary cam-path, A formed in thebottom of the cylindrical hollowof the table.

The shuttle-driver A is worked by the mitergears c and B The manner inwhich the shuttle-driver A imparts motion tothe shuttle D, so as topermit passage of the shuttle through a loop of thread, is shown inFig.6. A number of pins, 6, having feet E, are fitted to slidevertically in holes in the shuttle-driver A The upper ends of thesep'ins project above the surface of the shuttle-race and enter recessesin the under side of the shuttle D, so that as these pins'are carriedround with the driver A the shuttle is necessarily carried round with italso. The lower ends or feet, E, of the pins bearing upon the plate '0are thereby kept up, engaging with the shuttle during the greater partof their revolution, but at one part thereof they are caused to movedown along a cam-path, E formed under a piece, F, whereby the upper endsof the pins are thus suecessively'withdrawn from the recesses in thebottom of the shuttle, thus permitting the passageot' the-thread-loopunder the shuttle. As only one or two of the pins are withdrawn at atime the others that remain engaged with the shuttle maintain itscontinuous motion.

About the middle of the shuttle, in the line m x, is a cylindricalrecess for the reception of a flat ball or spool ofthread, and the wholeshuttle is covered by a plate in which are the thread-holes. The frontpoint of the shuttle is so formed as to readily enter a thread-loop, andits back end tapers to a point, being extended sufficiently far to holdthe loop till the stitch is tightened.

For the proper formation of the stitch, as will be hereinafterexplained, it is necessary to provide in the shuttle means for retardingor,holding the thread by a drag, so as to give it the necessary tensionand permit of its free delivery from the ball or bobbin only at certaintimes, and also means for taking up slack at certain times. I

The drag mechanism will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and S, andto Figs. 9, 10, 11,"and 12, which show certain details of it. The threadfrom the interior of the ball is threaded downward through a short tube,G, and then threaded upward through a hole,G in a lug, H, projectingfromthe side of the ball or spool cavity. When a spool is used insteadof a ball the short tube G is unnecessary, and the position of the holeG2 will be modified. A small lever, H is acted on at one end by anadjustable spring, 1, so that its other end bears against a stop, 1 Thethread, on its way from tube G to hole G passes between the ends of Eland the side of 1 both of which are on the under side of the shuttle,and it is thus subjected to a drag, giving a tension which may bevaried, as desired by the adjustment of the spring I.

1n thelug H there is a slot, in which a wedge-ended rod, K, can work toand fro, its inclined edge bearing against a pin fixed in the lug, andits opposite edge bearing against the thread passing through the hole GThe end K of the rod K has a gab receiving one arm of a bell-cranklever, L, which is acted on by a spring, L so as to draw the rod K, causand so prevent its delivery. At a certain part of each revolution, whenthe thread has to be delivered, this pinch is relieved in the followingmanner:

0n the shuttle-driverA (see Fig.1) is mounted a lever, M, one end ofwhich has a roller travelinground the stationary cam B, its other endbearingagainst the head ofa rod, M which is urged by a spring, N, undercompression. The end of the rod M bears against the long arm of thelever L. (See Fig. 8.) Thus at the time that the IOllvl ot' the lever Mis passing the full part of the cam B the rod M and the long arm of Lare pushed in opposition to the spring L and the wedge part of the rod Kbeing thus thrust backward, the thread passing through the hole Gr isrelieved from the pinch and can be freely delivered. M is shown in Fig.1 as having its end thrust into the body of the shuttle, being thenacted. This cam on by the full part of the cam B. is so formed, however,that throughout the greater part of a revolution the rod Mis withdrawnby its spring N from the shuttle, thus permitting free passage of theshuttle through the loop of the thread.

The take-up of slack thread is effected as 'follows: A small reel, 0, ismounted on a vertical axis in the shuttle that is fixed to a disk, whichis below the reel and immediately above another disk, 1?, fixed on avertical axis, P, which is mounted in the shuttle-driver A The faces ofthe two disks are formed with hollows and projections, so that theyclutch each other, the reel 0 being thus caused to revolve when the axisP revolves; .but these hollows and projections are so rounded that thethread can freely pass between the two disks. ()n the axis P is fixed atoothed pinion, P gearing with a toothed segment on one arm, Q, of alever, the other arm, Q of which has a roller engaged in the sunkstationary cam-path A As the lever Q Q is mounted in the shuttle-driverA it is caused by the travel of its roller in the cam-path A tooscillate, and thus by the gearing of Q with P to impart to the axis Pand to the reel 0 a reciprocating rotary motion in each revolution ofthe shuttle. The thread from the hole G is threaded downwardthrough ahole, 1?, (shown in Fig. 1,) over the center of the reel 0, and thencethrough a hole, S, (see Fig. 2,) in the .rim of the reel, and then upagain through a hole, S in the shuttle-cover, whence it passes to thefabric. Thus as the reel 0 is caused, as above described, to revolvebackward and forward during the revolution of the shuttle, the slack ot'the thread is drawn up by it or let out, as determined by the form ofthe cam-path A by which the rotation of the reel 0 is governed.

The action of the apparatus in forming stitches is illustrated diagrammath-ally by Figs. 19 to 25, inclusive, and the character of thestitching produced is shown by the plans Figs. 26 and 27, and thesections Figs. 28 and 29. In Fig. 19 the shuttle is indicated in threedif- The rod thread is drawn out for the next stitch.

ferent positions, 1 2 3, the book being shown in its attitudecorresponding to the position 3 of the shuttle. Assuming stitches tohave been alread y formed, the thread coming out of the last stitch-holeabove the fabric has been brought round the nose-like projection of thenotch in the resser-plate and down past the edge of the fabric and underit to the shuttle, and the needle has brought down through the fabric aloop, which is entered by the point of the shuttle in its position 3.The shuttle moves. onward to 1, the loop being drawn tight by its motionand by the action of the take-up, and at the same time the fabric beingfed onward, so that the last stitch-hole is removed from above theneedle. The shuttle-thread lying now as indicated in Fig. 20, and theserrated feed having descended, the hook, having also descended, moves,as indicated by the arrow, under the needle-plate and above the serratedfeed-plate. It then moves sidewise, as indicated in Fig. 2], and catchesthe thread below the fabric. It then retreats, as indicated in Fig. 22,and as the shuttle has meanwhile moved onward to the position 2, theprevious stitch is drawn tight; also,the drag on the thread by thewedge-rod K being relieved,a length of The hook now rises to its highestposition, as shown in Fig. 2, and also advances, as shown in Fig. 23,over the fabric, and the needle rising through the fabric enters thehollow of the hook, throwing out of it the thread-loop, which is nowcaught by the barb of the book, so that the needle enters the loop. Thehook now performs a small circular movement round the needle, asindicated by the arrow in Fig. 24, causing the loop to engage in the eyeof the needle, which is at this time open. The hook, re-engaging theloop of thread. then moves as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 25, andbegins its descent. The needle also descends, drawing the loop which itholds down through the stitch-hole. The needle'eye opens and the shuttleenters the loop, which is held by a point of the ring \V, where it iscut at the side of the needle. The hook now returns to the positionindicated in Fig. 19, and the cycle of operations is repeated, producinga series of overhead stitches, as shown in Figs. 26 to 29, inclusive.The linking together of the loops shown in Fig. 27 may be brought moreor less near the stitch-holes by a more or less rapid take-up.

It is obvious that many of the constructive details herein described,and shown in the drawings, might be'varied without departing from theessence of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. Thecombination, with a shuttle arranged to move continuously in an annularpath and a hooked reciprocating needle, of devices for carrying thethread from one side of the fabric over the edge thereof and placing itin the hook of said needle on the other side of said fabric,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the shuttle traveling in an annular path andthe hooked or openeyed reciprocating needle, of the hook R, and devicesfor moving the same laterally under and over the fabric and verticallypast the edge thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the shuttle having tube G and hole G, of thestationary cam B, lever ll spring-rod M spring-lever H bar K, andbell-crank lever L, substantially as described.

4. The combination,with thereel O, mounted on the shuttle, of suitabledevices actuated automatically for causing a reciprocating rotarymovement of said reel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combinatiomwith thereel O, mounted in the shuttle and having anaxis or spindle provided with disk 0 ot' the disk P, interlocked withsaid disk 0 and carried by a spindle or axis, P provided with a toothedpinion, P the lever-arm Q, pivoted to the shuttle-driver and providedwith a toothed segment meshing with said pinion, and devices forautomatically vibrating said arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this lstday of J one, A. D.1880.

LOUIS BOLLMANN. JOS'EF BOLLMANN.

Witnesses:

O. 0. PAGE-'1, EDW. O. V. Rim.

